Both Roberts and Mortimer will report to Contender Films director Alex Hamilton.

“This feels like a coup,” said Hamilton. “To bring them both to Contender illustrates the ambitions of the company almost as much as the films we are shortly to bring to the market.”

Contender has been ramping up its presence in the U.K. market ever since it was acquired by Toronto-based Entertainment One in the summer of last year. Entertainment One also owns Canuck distrib Seville Pictures and Benelux distrib RCV Entertainment.